Discernment and Making SpaceWhen we are healthy, every cell in our body practices discernment. It knows what to let in and what to get rid of. It lets in nutrition and energy and eliminates waste. When cells are overloaded with toxins from chemicals in our food and environment or from poor diet and digestion, they become exhausted and lose discernment, letting in viruses and bacteria, and are no longer capable of maintaining health.

We need to do everything we can to maintain cellular discernment, such as drinking clean water, eating whole foods, managing stress and resting enough.

To be well, we must practice discernment in everyday situations. We need to know what to let in and what we should get rid of. We need to stop bombarding ourselves with unhealthy situations. Sometimes we have a conversation that we know is toxic, yet we still participate in it. Sometimes we say yes when inwardly we know that we are overscheduled and don’t have time or energy to take on more, yet we do it anyway. Sometimes we eat something that tastes good that we know is really not healthy, and we eat it anyway. We may find ourselves hanging out with someone who is constantly negative, yet we continue the relationship. These are all examples of having lost our discernment.

In order to develop healthy discernment, we can practice making a little space, so that we have some time to think before launching into a habitual negative response. For example, when anger comes up, there is an opportunity to stretch out the space a little bit before we react and say or do something that we will later regret. One way to do this is to become aware of the sensations in your body as you feel anger arising. Notice your breathing. See if you are clenching your jaw. Then stretch out the space by taking a conscious breath, or by relaxing your jaw. This can give you enough time to think about the situation before you react. You might make some space by saying, “I need a little time to think about that”, or “I think your project is wonderful, but I’m overscheduled right now and won’t be able to help this time”.
Pati Kearns teaches Yoga at Dance Etc. Call 279-9523 for class information.